Gina takes centre stage with NIDA scholarship

She had more to say - more emotion, truth, and stories to tell, and that realisation led her to study acting and eventually study with TAFE Queensland.

Now in her final year of the Bachelor of Creative Industries (Acting and Performance) (ARB401), in partnership with the University of Canberra, Gina recently achieved a major milestone in her journey - being awarded a prestigious scholarship to the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), one of Australia’s most renowned acting schools.

However, her path to this point has been anything but linear, with Gina living in Japan when she discovered TAFE Queensland acting courses online.

“I was on the fence about going to university and didn’t know what it would be like to study the arts in Australia. But the type of performance training offered through TAFE Queensland stood out to me - I knew I had to give it a try,” said Gina.

Her leap of faith paid off, and from her very first TAFE Queensland performance in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Gina knew she was in the right place.

“That was the moment it became serious for me. I felt this urge to keep going. I finally gained the confidence and trust that I could make it as an actor,” she explained.

Gina credits much of her growth to the teaching staff who have shaped her as an artist and person.

“All my teachers have influenced who I am, but Anatoly Frusin and Lisa O’Neill have been especially important.”

“Anatoly taught me to be tough, to take risks, and to be ready for the industry. Lisa has helped me trust the process, believe in myself, and stay present in the work.”

“Our graduate production this year - Who’s Afraid of the Working Class? - was such a transformative experience,” continued Gina.

Training in the Norman Price Theatre at TAFE Queensland’s South Bank campus has been another source of strength, with Gina describing the venue as a sacred place.

“There’s something special about that space. Every time I perform there, I let myself go and feel the history of all the training I’ve done in that theatre. I don’t remember being on stage in my best performances - it just takes over.”

Like most actors, Gina has faced her share of self-doubt, but she feels she is in the right place to succeed.

“That’s been the biggest challenge. Learning to trust myself hasn’t come easily. But I’m slowly breaking out of that habit by showing up prepared and remembering that failure isn’t something to fear - it’s just narrowing down your path to success,” she explained.

Her mindset shift was reinforced during her time at the NIDA, which is considered one of the top acting schools in the world and was the training ground for its most famous graduates, Cate Blanchett, Mel Gibson and Baz Luhrmann.

Selected as one of just two third-year students nationally, Gina spent two intensive weeks in Sydney, immersed in various creative disciplines from slam poetry and salsa dancing to fencing and scene work, as well as looking at different types of acting techniques and putting them into practice.

“I was surprised and a bit nervous when I got the scholarship, and it didn’t sink in until I got to Sydney. But once I was there, it made me realise how different acting training can be from one place to another and how important it is never to stop learning.”

“For two weeks, we worked every day learning our craft under the guidance of industry professionals. It changed my perspective on many things, and I learned so much.”

Gina plans to pursue work in theatre after graduating from her bachelor's, though she’s open to film opportunities too, and wants to keep telling stories that matter.

“Graduating from my TAFE Queensland course doesn’t mean my training is done. There’s still so much more to learn, discover and grow into,” explained Gina.

“I see acting as part of a broader creative path. I love performing - acting, dancing, or something else - and I want to keep creating work I care about.”

Her advice to anyone considering studying acting is to take the leap, trust the process, and be open to discovering new sides of yourself along the way.

“Just give it a go. If you’re passionate, you will succeed. Don’t let one bad audition or performance make you give up. What keeps me going is that little girl who loved to dance and perform. Every failure is worth it for her.”

Looking back, Gina says she wouldn’t change a thing about her journey, as every experience - both the challenges and the triumphs - shaped who she is today.

“Even if I don’t make it as an actor in the traditional sense, the lessons I’ve learned at TAFE Queensland and NIDA will stay with me. They’ve helped me grow, and I’ll always be grateful for that,” concluded Gina.